Vacuum cleaner



AUZ- 1 4, 1934 P. J. ERNZER 1,970,290

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Aug. 4, 1930 f] TUR EY,

Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITI-:FD Is'iia'rss PA'IENTv OFI-ics l VACUUM CLEANER Peter J. Ernzer, Burbank, Calif. Application August 4,1930, serial No. 413,029

4 claims. (cielo-zow) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners. The invention has for an object the provision of a vacuum cleaner head which is particularly adaptable for the cleaning of plunges. AfterA 5- a plunge has been used, accumulated grease, dirt and the like, settles to the bottom of the plunge if the water is not disturbed. As a result, it is necessary to clean the tank periodically in order to maintain the plunge in a sanitary condition.

, Vacuum cleaners are ordinarily employed for this purpose. Most vacuum cleaners employ a brush of some type, which sweeps the base of accumulations. However, the method of attaching the brush to the vacuum head is such as to bend the brush when .any pressure is exerted against the same, with the result that the bristles wear quite quickly. Brushes of this character are expensive and the present invention has for an object the provision of a vacuum head so constructed and arrangedthat the brush element will give long continued, efcient service. Furthermore, the brush is arranged 'relative' to the vacuum head in such a manner that the bristles wear evenly. As generally practiced, the brushes ordinarily wear adjacent the ends and the bristles are pressed so hard against the plunge basethat the bristles are bent out of shape, rendering the brush practically useless.

An object of the present invention'is'the provision of a vacuum head employing a brush in which' the pressure contact of the brush against the side walls or base of the plunge may be regulated at the will'of the operator and in accordance with working conditions.

Another object is the provision` of a vacuum head which permits an even flow of the water therethrough to the end that sediment is readily removed without undue agitation thereof.

l Other objects of the invention include a vacuum 40 head for the purpose intended which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, durable, capable of giving long continued service, easy tooperate, and which is generally superior. With the above and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, andy relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown lin certain embodiments in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 isafragmentary perspective view of the improved vacuum head,

Figure'2 is a fragmentary and partially longitudinal sectional viewnf lthe vacuum head,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an element of the invention, and,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 60 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the improved vacuum head is designated as an entirety by A, and the same includes a foot or nozzle a, a brush b, means c adapted to control movement of the' 65 brush, means d adapted to regulate the pressure with which the brush b will engage an object, and a swivel head e adapted to be associated with a tube or the like f leading to an exhauster pump (not shown), all of the elements a to e, inclusive, being embodied in one practice of the invention.

In the present invention, I provide a foot or nozzle a which as is customary, is elongated and providedawith an elongated inlet orifice l. Said 'l5 nozzle is formed with a base flange 2, adjacent to and bounding the orifice. Preferably, the bottom surface of the flange 2 is of considerable.

width transversely, as shown in Figure 3. The

nozzle swells midway between its ends at 3, called the median zone, and at this portion is secured the swivel e. 'I'he median zone is enlarged at 4 and at said zone is a valve constituting the means d ,which controls passage between the lorifice 1 andthe interior of the swivel e (see Figure 3). 85 L Adapted for placement within the orifice l is a guide 5. 'I'his guide is provided with two spaced side walls 6 and 'I and an interconnecting top wall 8 between which side walls is placed a brush b, the said brush including the usual bristles 9 embedded in a back 10. The back has suiiicient depth so that the same will slide freely between the side walls without binding. The top wall 8 of the guide is provided with one or more enlargements 11 which are centrally recessed and screw-threaded, as shown at 12. The top wall 14 of the foot or nozzle is transversely bored at 13 in order thatl a screw may be passed therethrough for threaded engagement with threads 12, and thus secure the guide within the nozzle as shown inFigure 2. Integrally formed with the nozzle and extending from the top wall 14 are one or more of the means c. In the present instance, two of said means are provided, as shown in Figure 1. Both said means are identical and one thereof will be described. v

'I'he means c includes a cylinder 15 within which isa plunger 16. Connected to theplunger is an arm 17, which arm is passed through an opening 18 of the top wall 14 and likewise through 110 an opening 19 in the end wall 8 of the guide, the arm iinally being secured to the back 10 of the brush b.

The arm 17 is secured to the back 10 of the brush b and which arm is passed through openings 18 and 19 of the guide and nozzle, respectively, and finally secured to the plunger 16 in any approved manner, such as by that shown ln Figure-2. Thus, when the piston or plunger moves, the brush will correspondingly move. In order to cause movement of the plunger or piston, I have formed in the part 3 a port 20 communicating with the interior of both the cylinder and the swivel e, as shown in Figure 3. As before stated, two of the means c are provided, and separate ports 20 communicate with said means. Deiiectors 21 are provided for the guide, and these deilectors are inclined relative to the side walls 6 and 7 of the said guide. In each instance, there are four deilectors for both ends of the guide. The deectors are so arranged that they do not meet at a common point or apex but pairs are adapted to converge upwardly from the base portion of the guide toward lthe means c. 'I'he means c is not affected in the least by arranging the deectors in this manner but mention is made in order to indicate the relative arrangement of said deilectors. Each deilector constitutes an elongated strip of metal of a width just suflicient to permit the deilector to be received within the slot 1 of the nozzle a.

'I'he valve dis in the medial portion of the nozzle and controls to a certain .extent the ow of iluid` through the nozzle into the swivel. In this connection, the valve constitutes a disc 22 provided with a segmental opening 23. 'The periphery of the disc is provided with a plurality of radially arranged screw-threaded bores-24, it being intended that a key 25 should be inserted in a selected bore in order to rotate the disc. The enlargement 4 is provided with a segmental opening 26 corresponding in size to the segmental opening 23 of the valve disc. Thus, by rotating the valve disc relative to the segmental opening 26, itis possible to control the volume of fluid passing kthrough the valve (see Figure 5). It will be noted that the part 4 at the zone of the valve is formed to best accommodate said valve. Por instance, the enlargement 4 is curved at 27 and annularly shouldered at 28, said valve disc iitting against A said shoulder.

The swivel e includes a headed tubular member 29 formed with a transverse opening or port 30,

and this tubular member is adapted to be secured to the enlargement 4 by any appropriate means, such asshown at 31. Surrolmding the tubular member and bearing aga-insta head 32 thereof is an outwardly bowed cylindrical member 33. This member constitutes the outer housing or vbody of the swivel. Commlmicating with this housing or body is a tubular member 34 carrying a connector 35 for the hose or conduit I. It will thus be seen that the member 33 may rotate about the tubular member 29. T0 ,Support the nomic, I have provided a carriage. The nonnzleA is provided with aeentralextensionorarmwandbracketsmand v41. A caster is carried by thearm 37 and rollers aresecmedtothebracketsdoand. Inthe present instaneemdiushnentoftheheightoftbe rollers38and39relativetothebracketsisllermittedbyprovidingcamsuand-. Bothcams arelockedai'teradjustmentinanydesired positionbymeans otsetsorewsu.

handle secured to a yoke 46, the yoke in turn being pivotally secured to the arm 37.

'I'he operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

The pipe or conduit f communicates with an exhauster. When it is desired to use the device for cleaning, say, the bottom of a tank, the exhauster is put into operation, the vacuum head is placed on the floor of the tank, whereupon the operator cuts in the vacuum line. When this occurs, the pistons or plungers 16 will be drawn downwardly within the cylinders 15 due to the reduced pressure created back of said plungers, it being noted thatthe ports 20 communicate with the interior of the swivel and rearwardly of the valve d. As the plungers move downwardly, the brush b is also forced downwardly and against the bottom of the tank, say, into the position shown in Figure 2. The base of the flange 2 is wide so that the water, which is drawn up through the nozzle, is forced over the surface of the iiange and into the oriilce 1. However, the deflectbrs 21 and 22 will deiiect water upwardly in a given path. through the valve, into the swivel, thence through the hose to the exhauster. of the base portion of the flanges causes the water to flow into the orice of the nozzle in a relatively smooth manner and without creating turbulence and eddy currents exterior the nozzle. Eddy currents would, of course, tend to agitate the debris which it is desired to remove. The brush will have the bristles thereof in direct contact with the bottom of the tank and the pressure which said brush will exert against the bottom of the tank may be regulated by turning the valve d. If the valve is entirely open, a greater volume of water will flow therethrough and as a consequencaless pressure will be exerted against the plungers or pistons with the result that the bristles of the brush will not contact as forcibly with the bottom of the tank as the bristles would otherwise. 'Ihe less the volume of water ilowing through the nozzle, the greater the pressure exerted by thepllmg'- ers against the b However, pressure will always be exerted to move the plunger irrespeetive of a turning of the valve. The guide for the brush prevents the bristles from being swept backwardly and bent or broken and also assures that all the bristles are-wom evenly.

As before pointed out, the end bristles are usually -bent and broken oil.' due to striking objects sideways and likewise where the bristles are not protected, the force exerted downwardly against the'head is such as to bend the bristles backwardlyawav from the direction of movement of the headwith the result that the bristles soon are broken on' or at best wear unevenly. Uneven wearing of the bristles renders the brush of no further use. Y

The arrangement of the deflectors 21 and 22 is 135 such as to cause cavitation of the iluid, vas it is drawn through the oriiice 1 and into the swivel e. This construction allows heavy ,objects to be readily picked` up by the vacuum head.

It is obvious that various changes, modifications and variations may be made in practicing e invention in departure from the particular showing oi' the drawing and description as givenwitho'ut departing from the true spirit oi' the invention.

I claim:

l. Inavacuumhead,anoszle,abrushwithin said nozzle, and sub-atmospheric controlled means indueedbytheilowofailuidthroughthenosxle for positively moving-said brush outwardly from 150 However, the width 100A thenoulewhenthevaeuumheadisinoperation. 2. In a vacuum head adapted to operate in a l huid, a nozzle formed with an oriilce. a brush within said oriiice, a guide for the brush, and means associated with said guide for deecting the path of movement o! said iluid toward a given zone when the vacuum head is in operation, in combination with sub-atmospheric controlled means induced by the ilow o! aiA fluid through the nozzle for positively moving said brush during said operation. -v y 3. In a vacuum head adapted to operate in ailuid, a nozzle formed with an intake orifice.

a guide.withln said oriilce and between which and the walls of the houle bounding the orifice,

iluid is adapted toi-be passed, a brush movable within said guide, said guide being constructed and arranged to enclose the brush, there being no passage for fluid therethrough, and a piston secured to said brush, said piston being moved by auction created by passage of iiuid being drawn through the intake orifice o! the nome to move the said brush outwardly from said guide.

4. In a vacuum'head adapted to operate in a uid, a nozzle formed with -an intake orlilce, a guide within said oriiloe and between which and the walls ot the nome bounding the orice, iluid is adapted to be passed, a brush movable within said guide, a piston secured to said brush, said Y ma' 1Via- 

